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Neurodevelopment of Infants with Prenatal Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

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Abstract

The study aimed to examine the impact of prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) on infant neurodevelopment. PBDEs levels in 36 cord blood samples were analyzed with a high-resolution-gas-chromatograph/high-resolution-mass-spectrometer and infant neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. The mean and median of Σ11PBDEs were 6.63 and 4.63 ng/g lipid, respectively. As compared to the lower PBDEs group (Σ11PBDEs < 4.63 ng/g lipid), the higher PBDEs group (Σ11PBDEs > 4.63 ng/g lipid) had a significantly higher actual odds ratio (OR = 1.13, p < 0.05) of the cognition score as well as a lower odds ratio (OR = 0.904, p < 0.01) of the adaptive behavior score, suggesting that prenatal PBDEs exposure may potentially affect infant neurodevelopment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Science Council (NSC 96-2628-E-020-001-MY3) and the National Health Research Institutes (EO-099-PP-03, EO-100-PP-03) in Taiwan. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Yanpu Pingtung County, 907, Taiwan

    Cherng-Gueih Shy

  2. Emerging Compounds Research Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu Pingtung County, 912, Taiwan

    Cherng-Gueih Shy & How-Ran Chao

  3. Department of Radiology, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung City Pingtung, 900, Taiwan

    Cherng-Gueih Shy

  4. Institute of Behavioral Medicine, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan

    Huei-Lin Huang

  5. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Cheng-Shiu University, Niaosong, Kaohsiung City, 833, Taiwan

    Gou-Ping Chang-Chien

  6. Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Miaoli County, 350, Taiwan

    Tsui-Chun Tsou

Authors
  1. Cherng-Gueih Shy
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  2. Huei-Lin Huang
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  3. Gou-Ping Chang-Chien
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  4. How-Ran Chao
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  5. Tsui-Chun Tsou
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to How-Ran Chao or Tsui-Chun Tsou.

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Shy, CG., Huang, HL., Chang-Chien, GP. et al. Neurodevelopment of Infants with Prenatal Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 87, 643–648 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0422-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0422-9

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